Sheet-feeding mechanism for printing-presses.



r. J. EBERLB. y l SEEETFEBDING MEOHANISM POR I BINTING"PRESSBS.

APPLIOVATION FIL'ED'IBB. 25, 1911.

Patented Feb. 27,191.2.

F.J.BBBRLB. SHEET PBEDING MBGHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1911.

Patented 11611.27,

2. 1. 9M 1E E H s s T E E E s 2 FRANK J. EBERLE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Application filed February 25, 1911. i Serial No. 610,786.

. To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, F RANK J. EBERLE, a subject ofthe Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city Vand State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Sheet-Feeding Mechanism for Printing'- Presses, of which the following is a specification. 4

lThe machine 'of my invention is designed as an auxiliary to a printing press. The machine may be actuated by said press or by any suitable source of power and is adapted to place thin sheets of'paper between sheets as printed and delivered. from the printing' machine so as to receive any off-set, and the same is ad. )ted for use I J u especlally 111 connection with lithographie and color printing.l These sheetsreceive any off-set and prevent an olf-set upon the backs of the printed sheets which in the present method of printing sheets is quite frequent. These sheets may be used 'over and over again if thoroughly dried in the intervals.

In carrying out my invention, I employ removable able t0 hola the pile of ailing'- 'in sheets of paper, means for gradually raising' the same as the sheets are removed and for lowering' the table to an initial place; a sucker arm and support on .a recipro'cating carriage; pivoted swinging arms and oppositely extending tiexible members such as straps therefrom to said carriage for its reciprocating movement; a pump for creating' a suction in the sucker arm and means for actuating the same; also suitable devices for actuatingr the swinging arms and the pump device and for automatically and gradually raising the table and pile of filling-in sheets, all of which is hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a Side eleva tion and Fig. 2 a vsectional plan representing-the device of my improvement.

The hed .or foundation of the machine, is represented at a and rising therefrom are corner standards a1 and fitting said c'orner standards are tubular corner columns a2, and within these columns are posts as which are connected to the four corners of the table or platform b, and I provide nuts 2v in the corner columns a2 adapted to bear against the posts a3 and hold the same, with the table or platform b, in an adjustable position. f i

Secured to the bed a or formed in one therewith are bearing standards c c1 c2 and" 03,'the standards 02 and o2- being in pairs;

and I- also provide a center standard aise-4 cured to or' formed with the bedY a and which is vertically grooved and hollow. This center standard d receives the vertical columns (Z1 the upper end of which is secured to the platform 'd2'. This platform is of appreciably less width than the table or platform b and it is provided with rollers 3 at. spaced intervals along the oppositev edges and adapted to receive a table e, the same resting` upon said rollers 3 and adapted to move in the line of longest dimensions of the bed a and betweeii the posts a of the respective sides.

The column @l is provided with a'rack 4 vertically placed and adapted t/o move in a vertical groove formed in the center standard d whereby the column d1, its platform (Z2 and the table e may be raised and lowcred; lthe means for doing this being hereinafter described.

The table e is a support for the pile of superposed llingdn sheets and it is placed on rollers so; that it may be adjusted in position and so that it may be pulled to the left hand of F ig. 1 to any desired position for the more ready placing thereon of the pile of filling-in sheets.

I provide a carriagef upon rollers 5 in pairs at opposite sides and coming; both above and below the table or platform b, Dart of which at least forms a guide for the carriage and by4 preference, as shown in Fig'. 2. this carriage extends across the table or platform o and moves in lineswith the arms f1` that are secured thereto and bend over` ttirward to the right hand of Figs. 1 and 2.

These arms may be of any desired char- -acter and are shown for convenience as made vof piping, land on the free ends-"of 'said arms I secure a sucker arm f2 which yis parallel with the carriage f. vA hose g ot' flexible material is secured at 'one end to Athe armsk f1 adjacent to the suc-ker arm and said hose extends to the left hand of i' the figures of the drawing to `connection with a pump g1 having a piston rod g2 and which pump with the motions of the machine isadapted to create a suction so as to attach `by pneumatic pressure to the under surface of the sucker, a sheet at a time for the movement of the same, that is, for removing a sheet at a time from the pile of sheets supported bythe table e.

"la, /Ll represent fast and loose pulleys on the .shaft k2, which shaftl is provided vv'ith suitable bearings at the upper ends of the bearing standards 'c c1. On this shaft h2 I provide gears 6 7 5 the gear 6 being a large one and the Gear-'7 in the nature of a pinion.

I also provide a shaft z' in suitable bearings on the bed at off-set in a vertical plane which is parallel to a vertical plane through the shaft h2. On this shaft t' is a gear l meshing with the gear 6 and on the opposite end of the shaft z' at the left hand of Fig. 1, is a Avvorm 2.- This Worm 2 engages withv a Worm vvh'eel k on the -short shaft in the bearing standard 03 and on this short shaft there is also a gear lol. The gear Zal meshes with the gear 7.22 near one end of the crank shaft Z. This crank shaft Z is in. bearings and on one end thereof I prefer to place Y a flywheel Z1. This crank shaft is provided with a crank Z2 and With a crank arm m from the free end of which extends a connecting rod m1 to move the piston rod g2 of the pump, so that by the rotation of the crank shaft Z through the medium of the shaft z', worm 2, Worin-Wheel k, gears k1 and Z22, the said crank shaft Z is rotated.

The action of the pump is in evidence through the hose y of the sucker arin )92.

The connecting rod m1 is preferably made adjustable lengthwise to accommodate the stroke to sheets of varying sizes..

I provide a forked rod n at one end connected to-the crank Z2 and at the free'ends of the forked portions pivotally connected to the crank arms n1. These crank arms are mounted upon shafts 01 vin the bearing standards2 and on the oth'er ends of the shafts 01 are rocker arms o, the top portions of which are formed as segments.

I provide flexible strap members 7' 1'1 connected at one end by anyv suitable means and in anyY suitable manner, for slack or stretch to the sides of the rocker arms ov overlying the upper face of the segmental portion of the sameand crossing and pass ing around the pulleys 8 9 of the bracket bearings 10 secured to the under side of the table or platform b adjacent to the corner posts a3 and the other free ends of said flexible strap members are secured by eyes or in any other suitable manner to the-under portion of the carriage f, from Which it `will appear that as the rocker arms vo swing on their shafts 01 in the bearing standards c2, they first pull on the strap members 1' and then o n the strap members r1 to move the carriage f in a reciprocating mannerforward and backward on the upper surface of the table E and in doing so they impart a `standard Z and on this short `shaft s there are gears 11 and 12; the gear 1.1 by preference being the larger and meshing With theA shaft and upon this shaft is a gear Wheel Z and ratchet Wheel t1 and a pinion 16 between the projecting member of the center standard (Z which form bearings for said shaft and on the opposite end of this shaft to the gear t is a. handle 17, or equivalent Wheel,

vand I provide,^supported upon a suitable arm,-a pawl 15 which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet t1 and in so doing supportsthe column (Z1, platform Z2 and table e aswell as prevents the backward rotation of the gear t, ratchet t?, handle 17 and the shaft on Which they are mounted. In the operation vof the. device of my invention, the shaft /LP is turned by a belt and the source of power maybe the printing press which by preference isV located adjacent to the 'machine of my invention, or some other suitable source of power; the belt therefrom passing over one of the pulleys h1 and When'on the fast pulley rotatingthe shaft 71,2 and its gear .(3 and there-from communicating steady power and rotation through the gear 6, gear il, shaft c', Worm "Z2, worm lWheel 7c, gear 701 Iand shortshaft to the gear k2 and the shaft Zand then from the shaft Z to the forked rod n, crank arms nl shaft 01 rocker arms 0 and iiexible stra 7, the gear 11 on the shaft s, the gears 12 f and 13 and the shaft of the gear 13 and also` the toothed Wheel 14 and brings its tooth si' once in every revolution into mesh with the teeth of the gear t so as to turnvthe gear and the ratchet t1 and gradually'a tooth at a time in the rotationvof the wheel 14 raises the rack 4, standardd, platform Z2 and the t y a 'table e.

- Between the engaging periods of the tooth s1 the gear t and thevparts actuated `thereby to raise the platform and table are held by the pawl 15' so that the table is not A .only supported but `it can be gradually raised as the sheets one at a time from the pile thereon are removed. They are --removed as hereinbefore described bthe action of the sucker arm j? which Wit its car-f `riage f is moved forward and backward by the flexible strap members r r1. and t-hel rocker arms vand the segments o. This sucker arm f2, as w1ll appear` from Fig. 2,

j is almost as llong as the she'ets which it may sucker arm be a minute amount above the4 upper sheet the sheet will be raised to its surface and will be held so by the vacuum action with sufficient force to pull vthe sheets one at a time otl' the pileon the table e and carry them forward. rIhe suction aci tion is produced on the down stroke of the piston and piston-rod g2, and on the upstroke the air is forced out and the sheet forced away from the face of the sucker arm. The movement of the sheets conveys them from the superposed pileA upon the table e to the table of the printing press placed adjacent and on which are 'laid' the printed sheets, so that the action of the printing press in delivering printed sheets upon the table and the actionof the sucker arm f2 are caused to alternate so that after a` sheet is laid on the table of the printing press, a sheet from vthe table e is laid thereon and the sucker arms recede, and with the alternating movement printed sheets and. filling-in sheets are deposited into Va -common superposed pile. and any off-set of the printed sheets is taken on the filling-in sheets which may after dryingI be removed by h and.v

I have frequently noticed inY t-he case .of postal cards that are printed in groups or- Vseries upon the same sheet and afterward cutup, that the thin tissuepaper or fillingin sheets remain over the printed surface of the postal card when the same are offered for sale in the stores. vI Ieretofore, as`I un-l derstand, these filling-in sheets have been laid by hand, requiring active work on the partof trained assistants, but with the device of my invention these sheets maybe placed in position upon the printed sheets as laid on the table after rin't ng and filled in without the presence o Van attendant and entirely automatic in connection with and for use with the del very ofprinted sheets.

It will be noticed from the foregoing description that the table e is raised progressively as the sheets are removed and that with the removal of the last sheetl it is advantageous to similarly arrest the motion of theprinting press and of the machine of my improvement and to draw the `table e to the left hand of Fig. l and place thereon another pile of superposed filling-in sheets, and while the sucker arm is'in a` position corresponding to 'that shown atthe right hand of Fig. 1, the table may be moved back intothe full line position shown in Fig. 1, and the handle 17-gras ed b ,an attendant for the support of te co m'nn gil, platform d2 and table e. The pawl-l5 1s thensv'tung over so 'as to release its hold upon thefratchet t, and manually by the t-urnlng bf the handle 17 these parts may be lowered so as tq' bring the uppermost sheet pn,the table e into the right position for engagement with the sucker arm-f2. The

pawl 15 is'then swung over into engagement wlth the ratchet t1 and the machines started and the `operat-ions herein described repeatiedly performed. g

I claim as my .invent-ionzf v 1. In a machine of the 4character de scribed,`the combination with a traveling carriage, a .sucker arm mounted thereon and means for actuating said parts, of 'a vertically movable platform, a supporting cul` umn therefor, vbeneath said plat-form and a bearing-standard inwhich the column is vertically movable, rollers upon the said platform and a table for` superimposed sheets supported lby said platform and rollers and "movable 1upon said rollers, a power shaft and devices operatively' extending therefrom for progresslvelyralslng said colum'nfplat'form and "table, andother devices for manuallvvret-urning the said,parts to an initial position.

2. In a [machine of the character de scribed, the' combination with a traveling carriage,' a'sucker arm mounted thef'eon and means for actuating said parts,- ofa verticallyimovable platform, a table mounted upon the platform and movable over the same and adapted `to receive a superposed pile of sheets, a support-ing column centrally beneath said platform, a bearing standard in the bed of the machine, hollow Y and receiving said column and slotted, a

rack'secured to the column and movable in the Aslotted partof the standard-healing formed upon said standard, and ashaft therein, a gear and ratchet mounted upon one'end of said shaft, a pawl engaging the standard, a handle on the opposite end of said shaft for manually rot-ating the said parts; a pinion also upon said shaftmeshing with said gear, a power shaft and means operated. thereby for turning the said gear with a step bv step motion for prcgressivel)7 raisin the platform supported thereby and the ta leandV sheets thereon.

3. In amachine of the character described, the combination with a traveling carriage, a sucker'arm mounted thereon and means for actuating said parts, of a platform, a table mounted' upon the platform and movable over the same and adapted to receive -a superposed pile of sheets, a column centhe slotted part of the standard-bearin'4 formed upon said standard, and a sha t werf:

therein, a gear and ratchet mounted' uponv one end of said shaft, a pawl engaging the standartha handle on the opposite end of said shaft for manually rotating thev said parts, a pinion also uponsajid shaft meshing with said gear, a power shaft, suitable bearings therefor, a pinion thereon, a short shaft,

, a 'gear thereon meshingavitli the power shaft pinion, and 'a second gear, anothe'r short shaft and a near thereon meshingwit-h the 4latter gear and a toothed Wheel -also on the adapted to move, of rocker arms, shafts on which the same. are mounted, bearmgstandards for the said shafts and the said rocker arms formed with segmental'ru'pper ends', flexible strap members secured to the sides of said rockerarms and passing over the segmental ends and crossing, pulleys for,v said flexible members over which they pass and the free ends of said flexible1 members connected to said reciprocating carriage,I crank arms uponv the other ends of therocker arm, shafts.Y a forked rod connected to-said crank arms and means for actuating,r the same.

In a machine of the class described. the combination with 'a sucker arm, l`a` reciprocating cai-ringe` arms extending from the carriage to and for thel support'of the sucker arm, a table or platform supporting said carriage and upon which the same is adapted to more, of. rocker arms, flexible .members extending from the rocker-arms to the said reciprocatingxcarriage, supports for said rocker arms,'means for swinging the same, a flexible hose extending from the sucker arm,` supports therefor, v and a pump or vacuum producing device to which the other end of the llexiblefghose 'is secure'cLAa shaft and means for actuating the Sallie, a piston' for said vacuum producing device and connections therefromft'o said shaft., means also extending from thefsaid shaft to connections with the rocker ar'ins, whereby the Vacuum or suction action vis produced in t-he sucker' :1x-maud the same is moved and1 timed in'its. movement. ,l A

Gel-.11h12aamacliine-of-.the class described, the combmationwith a bed, of series .of bearing standards mounted thereon, tubular corner.

columnsconnected to some offsaid bearing:

standards and posts therein, a .table or plat form connected to the upper ends of said posts and-supported thereby`ad'meansconnected tosaid tubular corner columns for holding ltheposts andthe table'in the desiredrelation, a traveling carriage mounted upon said table, rollers forming part. of said traveling carriage for facilitating the movement thereof, arms 4'projecting from said lcarriage toward one end of the machine and a sucker arm carried thereby, means for,

effecting a vacuum or sucker action of said arms, a table for supporting the superposed pile of filling-in she,ets', a platform carrying 'the 'same and means for'supportingsaid platform and guiding vthe same, and other,

means for" raising 4the platform progresslvely as the sheets are .-removel.

"i,4 In a machine Iofthe-class de'sc1vibed,'thev combination AWit'hja bed, of series of bearing standards-mounted thereon, tubular corner columns connected to some "of said bearingsta-ndards, 'and' posts therein, awtable or platform connected tothe upper 'ends offsaid posts andfsupported thereby and means connected to said tubular corner columns for -holding'the' posts and the table in the desired relatio'nQa trayeling 'carriage mounted upon said table', rollers'formmg part of said t-rav.

eling carriage for facilitating the movement thereof, arms pro]ect1ng from said carriage `torturar-drone end of the machine and a sucker armcarrled thereby, means for effecting a vacuum` or sucker action of said arms,a longitudinally ,movable table for a pile of superposed sheets placed beneath the table supports of said'carriage, a platform on whichsaid sheet-tableis mounted and supported'for `movement and a sliding support. forv said platform, means for raising the platform with a step by stepfmtion and for intermediately holding the same as raised and other means manually actuatedand permitting the sheet-.table and its support platl f form to be returned to an initial posit-ion.

`Signed by me this 17th day of February 1911. .n

' FRAN K J. EBERLE.

Witnesses. Gro. T. PINGKNEY E. ZAoHAmAsEN.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for nu' con each, by adglressing 'the Commissioner oit-Patents,

Washington. D. 0. 

